PTC #9/HUMBERTO-TO-BE LIKELY TO REMAIN TO OUR EAST; HOT WEEKEND… Our focus this weekend will be on Potential Tropical Cyclone #9, also known as what will likely become Tropical Storm Humberto. The system is located over the central Bahamas right now, but is expected to move northwest toward the Florida Peninsula over the next few days. We still have a low confidence forecast as far as where the center of this storm will ultimately go, thus it’s hard to nail down specific impacts for specific areas. What I can tell you with growing confidence this morning is the core of this system will probably remain well to the east of south Alabama and northwest Florida. There very well may be impacts/issues along the East Coast of the U.S. in the days ahead, but the chances of Gulf of Mexico impacts continue to diminish. Locally, we’ve got a hot, humid weekend upcoming with a low (20%) chance of showers and storms on Saturday and a slightly higher chance of rain (40-50%) on Sunday. Let’s look at details…
LATEST ON PTC #9 AKA WHAT WILL LIKELY BE TROPICAL STORM HUMBERTO… The center of Potential Tropical Cyclone #9 is located squarely in the middle of The Bahamas this morning. The system is producing heavy rain across parts of the Bahamas that were decimated just a few weeks ago by powerful Hurricane Dorian. Confidence is high that this system will remain fairly weak while over The Bahamas, which is good news. Unfortunately, rain and storms will impact the ongoing recovery efforts. The system is likely to become a formal tropical storm later today, tonight, or Saturday as it moves closer to the Florida Peninsula. There will be rain across the eastern half of the Florida Peninsula regardless of if a landfall happens. Other impacts will largely depend on the exact track of the system, which we should know more about once a low-level center of circulation forms.
LOCAL HUMBERTO IMPACTS DISCUSSION – FRIDAY MORNING… While it’s a bit too early to completely rule out any local impacts in south Alabama and northwest Florida, let me be quite clear in saying there is a very high chance that we won’t ever have any direct local effects from this developing tropical system. Interests in the Florida Peninsula, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina should carefully follow the progress of PTC #9/Humberto-to-be in the days ahead.
40% CHANCE OF DEVELOPMENT IN ATLANTIC NEAR THE ANTILLES… There is a tropical wave about halfway between Africa and the Lesser Antilles moving westward across the central Atlantic Ocean that has a 40% chance of becoming a tropical storm once it moves closer to the Lesser Antilles early next week. Too early to speculate where this system will end up, but it’s one to watch in the days ahead. Nothing to worry about at this point, however.
Our football forecasts, including a look at tonight’s Friday Night Lights games across the region, have not changed.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FORECAST… High school football games across south Alabama and northwest Florida this Friday should be dry. Kickoff temperatures will be in the 80s, falling into the upper-70s by the end of the games. We’ll call it a 0-10% chance of rain across our region. Vast majority of us will be dry.
ALABAMA AT SOUTH CAROLINA… The Alabama Crimson Tide travels to Columbia this weekend to take on the South Carolina Gamecocks. The game kicks off at 2:30PM CDT and can be watched on CBS local stations. Kickoff temperatures will be around 91°. There could be a few showers and thunderstorms around. Rain chances are currently pegged at 20-30% in the middle part of the day in Columbia.
AUBURN VS. KENT STATE… The Golden Flashes of Kent State travel to Auburn this Saturday to take on the Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Kickoff happens at 6PM CDT when temperatures will be in the upper-80s or perhaps near 90°. There is a 20-30% chance of showers across central Alabama during that timeframe. Rain chances should subside as the game continues.
TROY VS. SOUTHERN MISS… Troy will take on the Southern Miss Golden Eagles with a 5PM kickoff on Saturday in Troy, Alabama. The Trojans’ game will be streamed online on the ESPN+ streaming service. There is a 40-50% chance of showers and thunderstorms throughout the evening Saturday across south central Alabama. I would encourage fans to have the rain gear handy and be ready for possible lightning delays. That isn’t a certainty, but it is a possibility of something that might happen.
SOUTH ALABAMA VS. MEMPHIS… The Memphis Tigers come to Mobile this weekend to play the South Alabama Jaguars. The game will be televised on ESPNU. Kickoff will be at 2:30PM CDT. There is a 30-40% chance of rain and storms in Mobile at the time of the game. Lightning delays will be possible, although not exactly likely. Kickoff temperatures will be near 90°.
APP… Many, MANY updates will be posted throughout the day in the RedZone Weather app. redzoneweather.com/app is the link for the free download. Be sure to visit the Alerts tab (bottom right corner) and tap the large, yellow “Alert Settings” button to customize the alerts you’d like to receive from me. If you like a lot of info, be sure to toggle ON Low-Level Alerts.
See all the details in your Thursday #rzw forecast video… Have a great day!